Five new ‘garden towns’ to share £3.7m of government funding

Five new garden towns that could collectively see 64,000 homes built across England will share £3.7m from the government to fast-track specialist survey and planning works. 

The government published their new garden towns prospectus last summer, which set out a list of criteria that local authorities and private sector partners must meet to receive backing and funding.

The prospectus said the government’s strategy will not be about creating ‘dormitory towns’ or places which just use the garden name as a ‘convenient label.’

Councils and groups from across England submitted over 100 proposals with the five taken forward receiving an initial £750,000 to help develop their plans.

The 5 successful bids are:

• Grazeley Garden Settlement, delivering up to 15,000 homes
• Hemel Garden Communities, delivering up to 11,000 homes
• Easton Park Garden Community, North Uttlesford Garden Community and West of Braintree Garden Community, an opportunity to deliver up to 18,500 homes
• Tewkesbury Ashchurch Garden Community, delivering up to 10,195 homes
• Meecebrook, in the north of Stafford borough, delivering around 10,000 homes

Minister of State for Housing Kit Malthouse MP said: ‘These new towns will not only provide homes for families, but will be vibrant communities where everyone, including neighbouring communities can benefit from new infrastructure — leaving a legacy for future generations to be proud of.

‘I congratulate these councils who have put forward ambitious proposals, which will build many thousands of high-quality homes, and am pleased to support them as they work to make these plans a reality.’

The government has been put under increasing pressure to build new towns if they are to meet their housebuilding target of 300,000 homes a year.

Last month, think tank the Policy Exchange claimed 15 new towns on the edge of London could provide much-needed affordable homes for millennials working in London.

However, a report released today (March 25) by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) claims that more than one million homes could be built on ‘brownfield’ land in towns and cities instead.